What Makes Vermont The Fine Furniture Capital of America?

Over the last 30 years, almost all the big American furniture manufacturers (including La-Z-Boy, Vaughan-Bassett, Broyhill, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Lane, Thomasville, Ethan Allen and so on) have moved some or all of their operations overseas to China, Vietnam and other third world countries. The result has been cheaper prices, lower quality and the emergence of what we call “curbside furniture”.

But there are still many companies that make high quality fine furniture right here in the USA and Vermont has more than it’s share of them. That’s why we call Vermont the Fine Furniture Capital of America. Throughout the off-shoring movement, only one Vermont furniture company I know of moved it’s operations overseas. The rest stayed here in Vermont remaining true to their values of quality, integrity, sustainability and community.

Today I wanted to highlight the work of Kit Clark, a consummate craftsman who specializes in luxury custom rocking chairs. “Furniture that fits you” is Kit’s mantra and he makes custom rockers much like a tailor would make a custom suit. Each rocker is designed specifically to fit its owner. Kit studies a customer’s posture, records their measurements and interviews them to understand any subtleties that could be used to enhance the comfort of their rocker. Then he goes back to the shop and eventually emerges with masterpiece in hand. Stop by Kit’s shop in Ferrisburgh, VT if you get a chance. I can’t think of a more luxurious Made in America Christmas present than a Kit Clark Rocker.

About Peggy Farabaugh

She is a CEO who brakes for salamanders, has bottle-fed rescued squirrels and spent her vacation building furniture for a rural school in Costa Rica. She believes in the future and in the people who will build it. A former distance-learning professor at Tulane University with a master’s in environmental health & safety, she turned an interest in forest conservation and endangered species into a growing, local business. She delivers rainforest statistics at breakneck speed, but knows how to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a newly finished piece of heirloom furniture.